Ok so I’m in Central North Dakota. So we have had 46” of snow so far this winter. Getting around is very hard. Main roads is all you can drive on. Do the coyotes in the deeper snow stay closer to the main roads or plowed areas when there’s tons of snow, or do they just deal with it, move less distance? What works the best for hunting and calling when there’s this ouch snow. Some of the back roads have proably 5-10’ drifts in them he only way to drive down them would be snowmobile or snowcat. Snowmobile would be very loud, proably unsafe caring a rifle. Snow cats not an option lol. Any tips would be great, also how to shoot for bipod in the snow. I use a bipod or adjustable tripod to shoot off of depending on distance but they want to sink in.
Hunting /calling coyotes with tons of snow?
- Thread starter zr600
- Start date
AdamT
Well-known member
No help here. People around here get excited and nervous about 4-6” of snow, I can’t imagine 46” of snow. I’m 6’2” and knee deep on me is a really big snow for my area.
Maybe some spike feet or the wider base cleated feet for your bipod/tripod would help it get a solid bite so long as it’s taller than the snow is deep.
Maybe some spike feet or the wider base cleated feet for your bipod/tripod would help it get a solid bite so long as it’s taller than the snow is deep.
u take plastic bucket lids cut them to a say 10 inch to 12 inch circles then figure out how to adhere/attach them to your tripod leg bottoms say for example by attaching them to the plastic tripod leg bottoms that pull off an on OR u walk out throw 3 in the snow and set your tripod on them....since u would need to carry them out u cut them down to useable manageable size to alleviate any inconvenience transport would cause as far as size and 3 plastic 12 inch discs cant weigh much IMO....then u have mini snow shoes for your tripod....attach them or not....personally if i had to do this i would attach them to the leg rubber bottoms for off/on purposes with heavy duty silicone and keep them in my pack with the tripod and just put them on at the set..if u do u u set the tripod up in your garage set the plastic discs underneath and adhere them like that so when u go out they already have correct angle because they will be fixed position flat for at least a flat ground scenario and with deep snow should never really be a problem to make flat with the ability to push one leg deeper in snow if need be....Good Luck
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I feel your pain, I'm in MT with the same problem.
The coyotes can travel on top of the snow most of the time but will use the roads to get around. Snowshoes Are your best bet. Don't plan on making many sets.
On my shooting sticks I got ski pole baskets and use some tape and screw them on, it works well
The coyotes can travel on top of the snow most of the time but will use the roads to get around. Snowshoes Are your best bet. Don't plan on making many sets.
On my shooting sticks I got ski pole baskets and use some tape and screw them on, it works well
1oldcoyote
New member
Originally Posted By: zr600Ok so I’m in Central North Dakota. So we have had 46” of snow so far this winter. Getting around is very hard. Main roads is all you can drive on. Do the coyotes in the deeper snow stay closer to the main roads or plowed areas when there’s tons of snow, or do they just deal with it, move less distance? What works the best for hunting and calling when there’s this ouch snow. Some of the back roads have proably 5-10’ drifts in them he only way to drive down them would be snowmobile or snowcat. Snowmobile would be very loud, proably unsafe caring a rifle. Snow cats not an option lol. Any tips would be great, also how to shoot for bipod in the snow. I use a bipod or adjustable tripod to shoot off of depending on distance but they want to sink in.
I hunt north central plains/rolling hills. During blizzards some coyotes will seek "hard shelters". An old den hole, brush pile, ect. The coyotes on the move during or after a blizzard. Will seek timbered areas. Whereas the snow drifts aren't so bad or deep. They also will seek frozen timbered rivers/creek bottoms. Where the deep snow & drifts aren't so bad.
Otherwise once the deep snow/drifts have hardened. They may be most anywhere. Basic coyote behavior is. They prefer wind break areas. Regardless of blizzards/deep snow. Walk into your call stand area on the cross-wind. Your odds will be better. Than walking in wind in your face. Even the village idiot coyote knows that. lol
I hunt north central plains/rolling hills. During blizzards some coyotes will seek "hard shelters". An old den hole, brush pile, ect. The coyotes on the move during or after a blizzard. Will seek timbered areas. Whereas the snow drifts aren't so bad or deep. They also will seek frozen timbered rivers/creek bottoms. Where the deep snow & drifts aren't so bad.
Otherwise once the deep snow/drifts have hardened. They may be most anywhere. Basic coyote behavior is. They prefer wind break areas. Regardless of blizzards/deep snow. Walk into your call stand area on the cross-wind. Your odds will be better. Than walking in wind in your face. Even the village idiot coyote knows that. lol
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
Food and shelter, find those find the coyote. They won't be mousing.
todbartell
New member
We often get deep snow up here. I've had generally poor results in deep fresh powder. If they do come in, it takes them a while to show up. I would suggest you sit longer on stands, up to an hour, to give them time to arrive.
Last winter we got a dump of snow in December and it didn't firm up until late February. I struggled in the powder, and on the hard pack they come charging in
Last winter we got a dump of snow in December and it didn't firm up until late February. I struggled in the powder, and on the hard pack they come charging in
Kirsch
Active member
Energy is life to a coyote. They won't go plowing through deep snow very often or they will die. When snow is soft and deep, you will see them go to the deer and cattle herds. Those larger animals trample down the snow, provide trails, and can offer up potential food options. Coyotes tend to move more towards farmyards when the snow gets deep also. It is this time of year I start getting calls from ranchers because they are seeing more coyotes than other times of the year.
Coyotes are lighter and can stay on top pretty decent once there is has been a thaw-freeze event. I live in ND as well and much of the snow occurred with high winds, so lots of the areas without cover don't have nearly as much snow. Concentrate on areas like harvested soybean fields or lakes. You will be able to walk better in those areas and coyotes can approach you easier as well. Keep in mind, these types of areas may not offer you much cover, so hunting low-light or nights may be your best bet.
Coyotes are lighter and can stay on top pretty decent once there is has been a thaw-freeze event. I live in ND as well and much of the snow occurred with high winds, so lots of the areas without cover don't have nearly as much snow. Concentrate on areas like harvested soybean fields or lakes. You will be able to walk better in those areas and coyotes can approach you easier as well. Keep in mind, these types of areas may not offer you much cover, so hunting low-light or nights may be your best bet.
skinney
Director
Kirsh is spot on with his assessment.
Many Hunters think Coyotes are easier to call after a snow. You have to understand there's a compromise, if a coyotes going to burn more energy and calories than what he's going to gain by ripping through knee deep snow for their meal, he won't do it. A lot of times they won't exert that kind of energy to come to a call in snow that is abnormally deep.
However They will gravitate towards cattle, whether it's because of a dead pile, Cow crap, or stack yards that are full of Mice and Rabbits.
We've gotten over 40" in the past month here, and it halted our ability to access 90% of our calling locations. However, it also pulled the Coyotes from 90% of our locked out sets, into easier access locations.
Keep pressing forward.
Many Hunters think Coyotes are easier to call after a snow. You have to understand there's a compromise, if a coyotes going to burn more energy and calories than what he's going to gain by ripping through knee deep snow for their meal, he won't do it. A lot of times they won't exert that kind of energy to come to a call in snow that is abnormally deep.
However They will gravitate towards cattle, whether it's because of a dead pile, Cow crap, or stack yards that are full of Mice and Rabbits.
We've gotten over 40" in the past month here, and it halted our ability to access 90% of our calling locations. However, it also pulled the Coyotes from 90% of our locked out sets, into easier access locations.
Keep pressing forward.
Hellgate
Member
I remember calling dogs in about 13" of snow and having them just bark at me across the canyon as if they were never gonna put out the effort it took to wade through the snow 1/2 mile to get to a dying rabbit. After several sets we realized it was too much work for the dogs to travel very far for a meal. They were just going to tough it out. We went back after snow melt and got a couple.